Resume Guide

Build a Resume That Gets Noticed

Learn how to create a compelling resume that stands out to employers and passes through applicant tracking systems.

Essential Resume Sections

Every great resume includes these key components

Contact Information
  • Full Name
  • Phone Number
  • Professional Email
  • LinkedIn URL
  • City, State
Professional Summary
  • 2-3 sentences
  • Key skills & experience
  • Career goals
  • Value proposition
Work Experience
  • Company name & location
  • Job title
  • Employment dates
  • Key achievements with metrics
Education & Skills
  • Degree & institution
  • Graduation date
  • Relevant coursework
  • Technical & soft skills

Expert Resume Tips

Follow these guidelines to create an impressive resume

Resume Basics

Keep it Concise

Critical

Limit your resume to 1-2 pages. Recruiters spend only 6-7 seconds on initial resume review.

Use a Professional Format

Critical

Choose a clean, ATS-friendly layout with clear sections and consistent formatting.

Include Contact Information

Critical

Name, phone, email, LinkedIn profile, and location (city/state) at the top.

Write a Strong Summary

Important

2-3 sentence professional summary highlighting your key qualifications and career goals.

Content & Keywords

Use Action Verbs

Critical

Start bullet points with strong action verbs: Led, Developed, Achieved, Managed, Created.

Quantify Achievements

Critical

Use numbers, percentages, and metrics. "Increased sales by 30%" is better than "Increased sales".

Include Relevant Keywords

Critical

Mirror keywords from the job description to pass ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems).

Focus on Achievements, Not Duties

Important

Show impact and results rather than just listing job responsibilities.

Design & Formatting

Use Consistent Fonts

Important

Stick to 1-2 professional fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman) throughout.

Maintain White Space

Important

Don't crowd the page. Use margins and spacing to make it easy to read.

Use Bullet Points

Important

Break up text with bullet points for better readability and scanning.

Save as PDF

Critical

Unless specified otherwise, submit your resume as a PDF to preserve formatting.

Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid

Don't let these errors cost you an interview

Typos and grammatical errors
Using an unprofessional email address
Including irrelevant information
Listing references on your resume
Using generic objectives instead of tailored summaries
Inconsistent date formats
Including a photo (unless required)
Making it too long or too detailed

Ready to Apply?

Put your new resume to work and start applying for jobs today.